And Over At The Codman

FINALLY, Win has sent out the vacate notices under Heritage Mgmt's name in a Codman envelope. They're actually asking for their months rent and terminating us as of October 1st. Meanwhile, over at the Codman building ,the scene is this. I took the photo yesterday when I went over to the building to maybe go up to my space, which I did not. The area behind this dumpster is a bank of windows which is boarded up now but has been wide open, windows removed, for at least a week now. In the other photo the windows on the top floor are across from my studio. The whole wing is almost wide open now. We're really renting storage space in an active construction site. The way we've been treated by the ownership of this building past and present is bizarre. The good news is that I went and got the key to my new space and my nephew is going to sand the floors for me next weekend. I have 7 windows! and there is light reflected back into my space from a huge skylight on the roof. Also, some of my friends are in this building so, all will be well. Open Studios is being planned for multiple buildings now. Stay tuned.

Stonington Cat Watercolor 9X12

Two years ago today I was on a trip to Stonington, Maine with my friend Diane Scott. We stayed at a sweet little place on the harbor and painted for a few days. I did this watercolor from a photo I took there. Another fabulously picturesque place in Downeast Maine. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans and cable TV kept us updated. I remember thinking at the time how necessary human optimism is to the survival of the species. The weathercasters kept saying, "if the levees break". And I kept thinking, "IF?" It seems there's always hope, even when there's no hope, which is a good thing.

Five Islands 6x8

This was painted in Nova Scotia on a misty summer day in June. I stood outside with my palette on the hood of the car and painted this on canvas paper mounted into a little cigar box I picked up at the tobacco store. I love the landscape here. Sorry for the lag in posting. I'm sure with the move to the new studio, I'll be energized again.

Nantucket Lightship 8X10 study

This is a study of the Nantucket Lightship from the deck of the cottage in Wareham. It was a hot and hazy evening and I just blocked this in really quickly. It's very high key in terms of its color depth. I'll be getting back to it soon. Right now, we're painting the bedroom walls.

Hydrangeas and Black Eyed Susans

Today, rdl and I went to the MFA to see the Edward Hopper show. Just glorious. We had a great day, having a bite to eat in the Cafeteria and lingering to see other areas of the Museum. Taking it all in. I think we could say we were awestruck. Here is another photo of my last painting under warm studio light. Notice how lighting affects the colors. I need to photograph this outside on a bright overcast day to get the most true color and no glare.

Getting Away

Despite, my last post, I'd been invited by my friend Susan, also a painter, to spend a few days with her in Wareham in a house on the bay. I went down Monday and came back Wed night. We painted the fabulous and ever changing scenery and weather. This was Wednesday afternoon. I 'finished' this painting but it needs a tweak. The photo is too glare-y but you get the idea. The wind never stopped blowing at this place and the rest of the area was having a heat wave! It was fabulous!

Back Yard Plein Air

The expression, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", applies here. I live a block from the ocean and 2 miles from a working harbor filled with boats of all types. Old fashioned cottages can still be found and there are beautiful gardens galore. Right here at our house I have a bunch of container gardens and cool garden statuary and endless still life "props', the collection of which, is ongoing. Yet, I'm compelled to drive to Maine to paint lobster boats, to Nova Scotia to paint flowers and cottages, anywhere to paint anything. It's an artist thing. Here in my own backyard is just as nice as anyplace, really. This is my block in of this little setup with petunias. I'll finish it today. The heat has been replaced by cool sea breezes, my kind of weather.

View from The Codman 8x10

I'm suffering serious Codman withdrawal thus the huge gap in posting. Luckily some of my dearest friends and fellow sufferers understand and have given a shoulder to cry on and really, that's all you need isn't it? Then you're fine. I didn't get this painting in a moment too soon. They started removing the siding a day later. All the windows were covered in plastic. I hope this fabulous chimney is part of the new design. I love it.

Cordage Park 5x7

Here's the finish.

While on my mission over there, I collected some of the broken window glass, which is purple. I've loved those windows and have been skulking around this place for years in all seasons but never got a successful painting. Something about the scale is intimidating. These buildings were quite something in their day. I hope when they go condo, they'll be able to save the brick buildings. Sorry about the crappy photo. I'm shooting these at home when the studio would be better. Uh oh. I had to edit this because I chose the wrong photo and published, so I think my subscribers are going to get the same picture I last published. I don't know if when you edit the post and republish, it sends it out again. Sorry about that ;)

View from The Codman Study 8x10

This is almost finished. You can see that I meant to include the window mullions but now think that it adds nothing and could in fact, detract. Any advice? There are no words to describe how I feel when I'm in this building. I'm doing a bit of a painting documentary on this space that I'll soon have to leave. When I came to the first Open Studios they had here in 1994, I felt a good vibe. It was my hubby that suggested that I get myself a space. Our studios validate us in a way that nothing else does. When we are here. We're artists.

Cordage Park 5x7

I got this little sketch done while waiting for the security patrol to come and let me out after I trespassed (Yes, I KNOW) out in back of the old cordage buildings, taking pictures. While I was there photographing blissfully, ever the artistic explorer, someone locked the gate, Oh Crap :(

Luckily, and I do mean luckily, there is a new Marina down there where it used to be pretty much desolate. I got the attention of one of the workers and he called the Security guy to come and spring me. While I was waiting I thought I should paint. I'll finish this up and post the final. I was a little embarrassed in a 'curiosity killed the cat' kind of way. These beautiful old mill buildings are right on the water where they used to ship the rope from. Good thing I got my fill of pictures 'cause I can't go back!

Study at Two Islands

I've held this post back hoping to get a better photo but since Monday, July 2nd, when I arrived at my studio to find that 16 studios, including mine had been broken into, their doors pried open with a crow bar, I've been scrambling to visit several possible new studio sites. Our building was recently sold and zoned for condos, so the writing, as 'they' say, was on the wall. Nothing was missing or damaged that I can detect but it was upsetting to find my lock repaired, as best it could be. The building has never been completely secure, but we've had no real trouble and I've never been afraid there. Most of our intruders were homeless cats and kittens which ended up being taken in by group members, and neighborhood kids skateboarding in the hallways at night. So, this is the photo I'm going with. I will say that any painting I ever saw in with my own eyes, looked better than the best photo of it.

Island Street Marsh 8x8"

I travel far and wide to paint quaint fishing villages and lobster boats in harbors but all of that is right here in Marshfield, in my 'own back yard', as the saying goes. Aside from being hideously over crowded now, Marshfield is still a beautiful place to live. Quickly disappearing quaint cottages and old fishing sheds can still be found and the harbor has a working lobster and fishing fleet.

Two Islands Farm

This abandoned farm is a typical sight around the Parrsboro area. At one time, this entire region was a bustling ship building and fishing site. Many famous vessels got their start here and coal was brought from Springhill and exported by ship and rail. At one time the only road to Truro and the lower peninsula was through Parrsboro but this has been replaced by the Trans Canada Highway which bypasses it. It's a great place to paint and really get away.

Painting in Parrsboro

I've finally hooked up to the internet here in Parrsboro. Got here Monday night and had two glorious days with sun and warm temperatures. Yesterday we took a ride down to Springhill where we toured the coal mines. I also managed to do a couple of small paintings. This charming red shed is in progress. The blackflies drove me inside. Here we are suited up to go into the mine. Priceless :)

eBay Link Debacle

I just spent an hour trying to put up my eBay link as a page element. When I view the blog the html is visible and the link doesn't work. This wouldn't bother me so much except I've already used this method to add my eBay link and it worked. I just used to go in and change the item number. Now it doesn't work and I can't figure out why. Any suggestions? The Item number is 170123005296. My two cats never sit this close together. Usually Wendell (brown) won't let Nizzy (white) look out the door with him.

Charles Sovek 1937-2007

I have just received the bad news that Charles Sovek died last Friday. His colorful and soundly constructed paintings were a joy to behold. His website is fascinating and in his total generosity, he had made his latest book The Basics available online. I met him in 1991 when I took a workshop with him at North River Arts Society and again last summer when he did a demo at South Street Gallery in Hingham. Gone too soon, but his painting legacy will go on and on.

About Van Gogh

Painting isn't always about actually painting. Reading about it or in this case watching a movie about it counts as much. I happened to catch Lust for Life ( not the Iggy Pop song) a sort of bio-novel about Vincent Van Gogh based on the book by Irving Stone ( The Agony and The Ecstasy). Kirk Douglas is passionately fantastic as the fanatical Van Gogh. But, my real joy was in discovering that the sets and characters are replications of his paintings. I was quite captivated. The bedroom is sweet and colorful just as it is in the painting. The Postman, Roulin shows up and you instantly know who he is. Two thumbs up. I've been away from painting to plan and execute a birthday party for my mother, which was last Saturday and was most successful and Monday the 18th we're leaving for Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. I'm looking forward to painting and posting from there. One more thing, the more subscribers I have the higher up my blog goes in the search engines so please subscribe and make sure to confirm in the email you'll receive from FeedBlitz...... and Thanks ;)

Beacon Hill Art Walk Wrap

It did rain briefly around 3 o'clock but over all the weather held to cool and misty gray. I enjoyed it anyway. I had 4 other intrepid folks at my site who pinch hit for me so I could take a bathroom break and visit Kelley, Joan, Nancy and Tatiana at their site. I saw many more folks than I thought I would and I thank them all for stopping by. A big thanks to the neighbors for inviting us and in particular to the lady at ground level whose cat, attracted J, K and I to do silly kitty talk into her kitchen window :D

Beacon Hill Art Walk

I am participating in the Beacon Hill Art Walk tomorrow. I'll be tucked away on Rollins Street. I hope it doesn't rain. Also, I can't get my eBay link to work right now, so if you want to see the paintings I have listed there I have added a link here #170117543371, that goes to eBay but you need to type in this number when you get there. I'll fix that soon. Here is the Hull Depot painting which looks like Edward Hopper having a flashback ;) It's very rough and I'll try it again soon. I have a better idea, now what it will take to capture this place. Also, the truck stood in for a fantastic red jeep (which kept coming and going) which will be in the next version of this painting.